Many educational institutions use learning management systems that allow instructors to make discussion boards (DBs) where students can add to threads made within these DBs. One widely used LMS is Blackboard where many course instructors require students to participate in a topic of discussion at least once per week where the student must make a minimum of one original post and one response to a peer. This type of assignment organically incorporates social learning in that this allows students to present what they know and their evidence relating to the topic where all students are equally represented. The instructor also prefaces that students must be respectful of one another in the DBs and in their responses, thus allowing students to practice communication in a clear and professional manner which is an essential skill that is required for most jobs.

I have a personal example relating to the issues between technology and gender (or race, socioeconomic status, etc.) from when I taught a synchronous online class in my early 20s. As mentioned by Dr. Mayo, it is the responsibility of the instructor to bridge the gap between those who might not be as well-equipped for conductive learning through technology as others.

As an adjunct instructor during the pandemic, I gave live online lectures where my students were free to respond to me or their peers by raising their hand using an emote or writing in the chat to promote student and instructor interaction. The issue presented here was that I did not set any guidelines about online etiquette that would have been made to promote a safe space for an open discussion between all participants because I assumed that all of my students would know how to conduct themselves respectfully. One of my students subverted this assumption by responding to something I said by typing his sentence in all capital letters. This student was a male who was in his 50s or 60s, older than a majority of my students. Taken aback by this action, I communicated to him privately that I did not like his abrasive tone and that I did not want to see him respond to me or any of his peers in that manner moving forward.

From this incident, I realize that it is the responsibility of the instructor to set clear-cut and specific expectations for the students to follow since it is very likely that some students may have gaps in their prior knowledge that may interfere with the goal of the instructor promoting a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. In this case, this student seemed to have a deficit in social skills. As stated by Dr. Mayo, people conduct themselves online differently than in real life, so instructors must maintain these expectations by setting them beforehand and moderating those who disrupt this safe and inclusive learning environment.